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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Morris Talansky: I arranged cash payments to Yitzhak Rabin |
| 2008-07-23 |
| Lawyers for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert screened a video of key witness Morris Talansky in Jerusalem District Court on Tuesday in which the American businessman is seen talking about cash he once gave to the late Yitzhak Rabin. On the last day of the cross-examination of the key witness in the graft probe against Olmert, the attorneys questioned Talansky over statements he made to police about contributing money to Rabin, despite his denial in court that he had any connection with other Israeli politicians. Talansky said his remarks about Rabin were meant to be confidential. At this stage, State Prosecutor Moshe Lador interceded in the exchange. "He had no idea that he was being filmed," Lador said of Talansky. "This whole exercise, where the attorneys are taking an interest in what he said about Rabin, is so transparent." Legal experts say Olmert's lawyers are trying to manufacture "spin" by diverting public attention away from the investigation into Olmert's alleged financial improprieties. Despite the state prosecutor's attempt to suppress the footage, it was played in court. Talansky is seen in the clip remarking that Rabin received money from American Jewish businessman Leon Charney during one of his trips he took to the U.S. as a member of Knesset. Talansky is seen in the video saying he paid for Rabin's airline ticket, and that he wagered $100,000 in a tennis match together with Rabin, a match they would eventually won. Talansky is also heard saying he paid for Rabin's hotel room. After screening the clip, Olmert's lawyers asked Talansky about his statements. Talansky replied that he and Rabin won $100,000 which would then be donated to Sha'arei Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem. Tel-Zur then offered Talansky a chance to apologize for the story. Talansky replied that he was sorry, that he regretted making the statements, and that he wished to apologize before the Rabin family. "Talansky didn't say whether the story was true or false," Lador said afterwards. "This remains an open question." During the questioning, an argument erupted between Talansky and Olmert's attorneys over a $15,000 loan the premier once received from Talansky during his stay in New York. Talansky claimed that Olmert called him three times in the morning, which meant that he needed something. Talansky then said he went to the bank to retrieve the money for Olmert. Olmert's lawyers then showed Talansky an excerpt from his previous questioning in which he denied being near the telephone when Olmert called. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Yuh oh! |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-07-23 23:06 |